One-Percenters: Hackham Football Club break A grade drought in Adelaide Footy League
It’s been almost five years to the day but this southern footy club has finally ended it’s A grade winning drought. Plus more from around the Adelaide Footy League in One-Percenters.
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Welcome to One-Percenters – a wrap of the quirky talking points from the round in the Adelaide Footy League.
Each edition we will bring you eight or so titbits from the latest weekend – they might be eye-catching results, milestones, comebacks, big wins, broken droughts or inspiring stories.
If you have heard about something quirky in the Adelaide Footy League, email us your suggestions or photos to patrick.keam@news.com.au
From the quirky to the inspirational, the weird, wonderful and everything in between here are the things which caught our eye in round nine:
HAWKS SNAP LONG A GRADE DROUGHT
Hackham Football Club coach and president Glenn Rowe said the Hawks’ win on Saturday was “a long time coming”.
And he’s not wrong.
It had been almost five years since the Hawks had tasted A grade success and didn’t they enjoy it.
The southern club snapped the drought – which extended back to June 18, 2016 – with a stirring 40-point triumph over division seven rival Flinders University.
Hackham led at every change to salute 14.9 (93) to 7.11 (53) at home.
The Hawk’s last victory in an A grade match came in the Southern Football League in round 10, 2016 when they prevailed against Marion by four points.
The next year, the SFL dumped the club from it's A and B grade competitions for failing to register enough players to fill two teams.
Hackham spent the following seasons in the C grade before making the switch to the Adelaide Footy League this year.
Rowe told The Messenger the club was always confident the win would come, despite seven losses to begin the campaign.
“With any luck it doesn’t stop at one,” Rowe said.
“For everyone around the club and the playing group it was really good to have the win.
“It was a milestone moment for the club that was five, six years in the making.
“But the way I think as a coach is we’re 1-7 and still have a lot of work to do.
“It was absolutely a long time coming.”
Hackham had been edging close to a victory – falling to OSB Lonsdale (19 points), Adelaide Lutheran (eight) and Greenacres (seven) – in previous weeks.
But when the Hawks led by 16 points at half-time on Saturday, they knew it was well and truly on.
Shane Stevens starred with a bag of 10 goals, while skipper Luke Allan was at his usual influential best leading from the front.
Rowe said it was clear early Stevens was on for a fruitful day.
“I did say him at the start of the game ‘we’re going to need a big one from you today’,” he said.
“He looked me straight in the eye and said ‘you’ve got it’.
“And he produced.”
Next up, following the league-wide bye this weekend, the Hawks will aim for another win against Mitchell Park before an encounter against OSB Lonsdale in round 12.
Rowe said the club was also buoyed by construction of four new changerooms at Hackham Oval, which are expected to be ready for next season.
LEADING GOAL KICKERS
We’ve reached the halfway mark of the season and the competition for the title of leading goal kicker is hot in most of the league’s divisions.
As for the overall leader, we’ve gone through each of the men’s divisions to find out who is on top.
Gun Pembroke Old Scholars spearhead Alex Forster continues to lead the way on 58 majors in a stellar campaign where he has recorded bags of 10, eight and nine.
Not too far behind is a familiar face on these lists in Jesse Whinnen.
The Pulteney forward has previously booted more than 90 goals in a season on two occasions and has been in fine form once again.
Click read more to see the full list of leading goal kickers from across the divisions.
MARKS AND GOALS OF THE WEEK
This season the Adelaide Footy League has partnered up with The Advertiser and Messenger to crown the best mark and best goal of 2021.
Each week you can find the top three of each from the round here in the One-Percenters column.
Vote in the poll for your favourite.
At the end of the year the top marks and goals will go in the running to be named the best of the season with an overall vote decided by you.
ENTERTAINMENT BETWEEN THE STICKS
He’s local footy’s most entertaining goal umpire and Dave “Crispo” Crispin was in action again on Saturday.
The antics of the between the sticks has been keeping fans at Greenacres matches entertained for many years.
We interviewed “Crispo” a couple of years ago and you can read that full story here.
Thanks to Rachel O’Loughlin for this video through from the Dragons’ match against OSB Lonsdale on Saturday.
If you have a great video or photo from local footy to share, send it through!
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